One piece louver unit



Feb. 7, 1967 D ROUSEY ET AL 3,302,554

ONE PIECE LOUVER UNIT Filed Jan. 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 7, 1967 ROUSEY ET AL 3,3Q2554 ONE PIECE LOUVER UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1965 "Llnited States Patent 3,382,554 {ENE PIECE LGUVER UNET Donaid L. Rousey, Des Plaines, and Roger D. Meutcl1- eon, Northiieid, ill, nssignors to Leslie Welding Co. 1119., Franklin Paris, ill, a corporation of Delaware Filed .l'an. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 423,452 6 Claims. (Cl. 98121) The present invention relates to a novel louver structure and more specifically to a novel ventilating louver unit.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel louver unit which is completely reversible and is adapted for both flush and recess installation.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a novel louver unit of economical construction and resistant to damage or Weathering.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a novel louver unit which is constructed so as to eliminate any need for separate screening for resisting the passage of insects therethrough.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a novel louver unit of the above described type of relatively compact or slim cross section for facilitating installation and for minimizing space requirements during storage or shipping.

Still a further important object of the present invention is to provide a novel louver unit of the above described type which may be economically formed in a single piece of plastic or other suitable material.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a louver unit constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention mounted in an opening in a wall;

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken along line 44- in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but shows the unit in a position turned upside down from that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a back perspective view of the louver unit in the position shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 77 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 83 in FIG. 6.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a louver unit 10 is shown in a first position for installation in a wall opening in FIGS. 1 through 4, and a reversed and upside-down position in FIGS. 5 through 8. The louver unit 16 is formed in one piece from sheet material and is preferably formed from a tough, durable, weather-resistant plastic material which has sufiicient' strength and resiliency to resist permanent bending or denting during shipping or installation, or when subjected to weather elements such as hail.

The louver unit 10 is formed with a substantially planar marginal portion or flange 12 having opposite side sections 14-16 and 1840. In the position shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the marginal section 14 is the uppermost section and the marginal section 16 is the lowermost section. However, when the louver unit is reversed to the position shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the marginal section 14 becomes the lowermost section and the marginal section 16 becomes the uppermost section. An annular or rectangular head 22 is embossed in the marginal portion 12 as shown.

As shownin FIG. 3, the upper marginal section 14 merges with a laterally projecting wall 24 which extends upwardly from a junction 26 with the section 14 when the unit is in the position shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. The lower marginal section 16 merges along junction line 28 with another laterally projecting wall 30 which extends upwardly at an angle somewhat greater than the upwardly projecting angle of the wall 24. The other side marginal sections 18 and 20, respectively, merge along junction lines 32 and 34 with laterally projecting walls 36 and 38 which are substantially parallel to each other and perpendicular to the marginal sections.

The louver unit 10 is adapted to be mounted for traversing an opening 40 in a wall 42 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and when the unit is in a position shown in these figures, the peripheral marginal portion or flange 22 overlies a surface 44 of frame means 46 defining the opening 4%) and the wall sections 24, 39, 36 and 38 project into the opening. Nails 48 or other suitable fastening devices may be driven through the peripheral portion or flange of the unit and into the frame means 46 for securing the louver unit with respect to the wall.

The transverse wall sections 24, 3t 36 and 38 provide a generally rectangular housing which encloses a plurality of integral inclined louver sections 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64 which are all substantially identically constructed and arranged. In addition a generally horizontal section 66 extends between integral junction sections 68 and 70 joining lower and upper margins, respectively, of the louver sections 50 and 52. Identical generally horizontally extending sections 72, 74, 76, 78, and 82 extend between the lower and upper margins of the remaining louver sections. Furthermore, another generally horizontal section 84 which is identical to the section 66 extends between the lower margin of the louver section 64 and a vertical connecting wall 86 which joins the wall section 30.

As indicated above, the louver unit is preferably formed from a piece of sheet material. Furthermore the unit is preferably produced by forming the sheet material over a mold so that the louver sections 50 through 64 and the generally horizontally disposed sections joined thereto are drawn from material within the outline of the peripheral portion 12. As a result, these sections have a thickness which is reduced as compared with the thickness of the peripheral portion 12.

The louver sections 50 through 64 and their associated generally horizontal connecting sections are formed so that they extend between the opposite parallel side wall sections 36 and 38 but terminate slightly short thereof so that there is a slight clearance or space 88 between ends of the louver and the horizontal sections and the wall section 36 as shown in FIG. 4, and an identical clearance between the louver and horizontal section and the wall 38.

As indicated above, the horizontal section 66 is joined to the louver section 52 along a junction 70. A similar junction 90 is provided between the upper margin of the louver section 50 and the wall section 24, and similar junctions 92, 94, 96, 98, 109 and 101 are provided between the remaining louver sections and generally horizontal extending sections. These junctions, along with the aforementioned wall section 86, extend beyond the opposite ends of the louver and horizontally disposed sections and join with marginal edges of the wall sections 36 and 38.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a triangular end wall 102 is formed integrally with adjacent ends of the louver and horizontal sections 50 and 56, which end wall is spaced slightly from the adjacent side wall 36. Identical triangular end walls 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114 and 116 are formed with the corresponding ends of the remaining louver and generally horizontal sections. Opposite ends of the louver and horizontal sections merge with substantially identical end walls 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130 and 132 is indicated in FIG. 1. The manner in which the triangular end walls are spaced from either of the adjacent side wall 36 or the adjacent side wall 38 is best shown in FIG. 4. The triangular end walls 102 through 116 are joined to the adjacent side wall 36 by a narrow junction section 134, and the opposite triangular end walls are similarly joined to the adjacent side wall 38 along a narrow junction section 135 as shown best .in FIGS. 2 and 4.

In order to provide for the passage of air through the unit 10, aperture means are provided through each of the generally horizontally disposed sections 66 and 72 through 8 More specifically, as shown for example in FIG. 2, each of the generally horizontal sections has a plurality of generally rectangular openings 136 therein. It is further important to note that each of the openings 136 is traversed by a plurality of small closely spaced apart louver elements 138. Referring particularly to FIG. 8, it is seen that the louver elements 138 are constructed and spaced so as to define relatively narrow slots 140 therebetween. This construction prevents many insects from passing through the louver structure. Thus the small louver and narrow slots 140 provide, in effect, integral insect screening in the unit It).

The small louvers 138 are stamped or otherwise formed from the material of their respective horizontal sections and are inclined at acute angles with respect to their horizontal sections. It is further to be noted that, as shown best in FIG. 8, the louver elements 138 are twisted at their opposite ends 142 or, in other words, at their junctions with their respective horizontal sections in a manner such that the louver elements project substantially equally both above and below their respective horizontal sections. This arrangement enables the louver elements 138 to provide a more efiective baffle against the passage of rain and the like through the unit both when the unit is in the position shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, and the position shown in FIGS. 5 through 8.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A one-piece sheet material louver unit comprising a marginal portion having opposite side sections having marginal edges, a plurality of vertically spaced inclined louver sections extending between said side sections, a plurality of generally horizontal sections extending between and adjacent upper and lower end margins of immediately adjacent louver sections, connecting sections integrally joining said generally horizontal sections to said upper and lower margins of adjacent louver sections, certain of said connecting sections being disposed substantially in a common plane and integral-1y joining said marginal edges of said opposite side sections, opposite ends of said louver sections and said generally horizontal sections being separate from and spaced inwardly from said opposite side sections and the marginal edges thereof,

generally triangular end sections integrally joining adjacent end edges of immediately adjacent louver sections and generally horizontal sections, each of said generally horizontal sections having opening means therethrough, and a plurality of louver elements integral with each of said generally horizontal sections and inclined in respect thereto and traversing each of said opening means.

2. A louver unit, as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said louver elements projects both above and below its associated generally horizontal section.

3. A louver unit, as defined in claim 2, wherein said louver elements associated with each of said opening means are closely spaced apart and define narrow slots therebetween for resisting the passage of insects and the like therethrough.

4. A one-piece sheet material louver unit comprising a marginal portion having a pair of opposite side sections disposed generally in a vertical plane, said marginal portion including upper and lower sections extending between and joining upper and lower ends of said side sections, opposite side walls extending from inner edges of said opposite side sections generally laterally in one direction from said marginal portion, upper and lower walls respectively extending from inner edges of said upper and lower sections generally laterally in the same direction as said side walls, a plurality of vertically spaced and inclined louver sections extending between said side walls, a plurality of generally horizontal sections extending between adjacent lower and upper margins of immediately adjacent louver sections, connecting sections integrally joining said generally horizontal sections to said lower and upper margins, certain of said connecting sections being disposed substantially in a common plane and integrally joining edges of said side walls and upper and lower walls spaced away from said marginal portion, opposite ends of said louver sections and said generally horizontal sections being spaced inwardly from said opposite side walls, generally triangular end sections integrally joining adjacent end edges of immediately adjacent louver sections and generally horizontal sections, and opening means through said generally horizontal sections.

5. A louver unit, as defined in claim 4, wherein said opening means comprises a plurality of spaced apart openings in each of said generally horizontal sections.

6. A louver unit, as defined in claim 4, which includes a plurality of closely spaced apart louver elements integral with each of said generally horizontal sections and traversing each of said opening means, each of said louver elements including portions projecting above and below its associated generally horizontal section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 345,694 7/1886 Hayes 98-121 2,492,909 12/1949 Warp 98121 X 2,624,264 1/1953 Mergner 9899.8 2,803,185 8/1957 Coleman 98121 3,027,823 4/1962 Martin 98-88 3,079,853 3/1963 Smith 98121 MEYER PERLIN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Examiner. M. A. ANTONAKAS, Assistant Examiner, 

1. A ONE-PIECE SHEET MATERIAL LOUVER UNIT COMPRISING A MARGINAL PORTION HAVING OPPOSITE SIDE SECTIONS HAVING MARGINAL EDGES, A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED INCLINED LOUVER SECTIONS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE SECTIONS, A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY HORIZONTAL SECTIONS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND ADJACENT UPPER AND LOWER END MARGINS OF IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT LOUVER SECTIONS, CONNECTING SECTIONS INTEGRALLY JOINING SAID GENERALLY HORIZONTAL SECTIONS TO SAID UPPER AND LOWER MARGINS OF ADJACENT LOUVER SECTIONS, CERTAIN OF SAID CONNECTING SECTIONS BEING DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY IN A COMMON PLANE AND INTEGRALLY JOINING SAID MARGINAL EDGES OF SAID OPPOSITE SIDE SECTIONS, OPPOSITE 